Books Over Tech: Who Is the Winner?

 

Books have been the very most intellectual driver for many of us. They provide valuable information on just about anything as well as a great sense of joy. They not only enlarge our vocabulary, but they also trigger our brains, making us intellectually more capable. Furthermore, books let us spend quality time, costing as little as possible.

Back before the 2000s, books had been the sole tool of entertainment after maybe the TV. Since the internet and the video games were not as big as they are today, most of us read books to entertain ourselves. We let ourselves flow with the book, jumping from one adventure to another. We used to build a world in our minds, where the events in the book unfold. It was our imagination that decided how the characters and the places in the book would look.

Nowadays, books have ceased to be one of the most used items in one’s bag. People use mobile phones in the event they need to access some information. They watch video or play games during their journeys on the subways. It feels more convenient to browse through pages on their mobiles than to carry some bulky book around with them.

However, choosing an electronic device over a book makes one inert. Consuming media that do not require much brainpower to process leaves the mind untrained. You might suffer from attention deficit because of typical internet videos. Your physical health might suffer from long durations of screen time.

In sum, it might be a good idea to cut down on the time spent with the technology and switch back to good-old books. While making you wiser, books are equally fun.

Cars Get Complicated: Do We Actually Need It?

 

Cars of today have gotten so much technology-driven that they have converged to become a Swiss Army knife from being a simple machine of transportation. They now possess so many quirks and features, which makes them essentially a technological tool that is able to serve so many needs. The market is flooded with models that do not offer physical buttons but a touch screen to control even the basic functions, like setting the temperature inside the car. While automatic gear shifting has long been standard for the sector, the gear lever itself has started to disappear completely.

Automobiles used to be much simpler than their current make. The automakers of the '90s and 2000s prioritized longevity and reliability over the technological upper hand. Their build quality surpassed that of today's, as we still see many cars made during that era on the roads. Today’s cars, albeit much more technologically superior, brake often and do not last more than a couple of hundred thousand miles.

Another face of this discussion can be driving safety. True, today’s cars exhibit more safety features than ever. Yet, they provide so many entertainment opportunities throughout the ride, posing a safety hazard to the driver in terms of distraction.

I can attest to the fact that all these new technological innovations make the customers satisfied. However, manufacturers should not forget that the majority of customers only demand safe travel over the years with low cost of maintenance. The rest is optional.

Air Crash Investigators: Heroes Behind the Safe Travel

 

Air travel has become so mainstream that we take it for granted. It has been defined as the safest and the fastest option of travel, especially for greater distances. However, it has not always been so safe. There have been crashes with a worrying number of casualties. Crashes and minor mishaps still occur, although not as often as before. This is due to the fact that each crash hints to authorities at fixing what might be wrong with the airplane or the persons that operate it.

Officials who are responsible for investigating the causes behind each crash report their findings as well as cite their recommendations as to what might be corrected in order for us not to witness such tragedies again. They search the crash site gathering leads that could help them come up with theories as to how the crash has happened. The most important clues almost always come from Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder. These devices store the flight data and actual communiations of the pilots that took place right before the crash.

Air crash investigators happen to be coming from a group of people who have worked in the aviation industry and possess knowledge and expertise on aviation-related accidents. Their work consists of collecting evidence from the accident site, photographing the aircraft parts, interviewing the witnesses, and, in some extreme cases, trying to replicate the events leading to the accident. They even conduct experiments to prove their cases.

Air travel is extremely safe thanks to the changes put forward following the recommendations coming from these investigators. That is why we need to glorify what they do and appreciate their work every time our plane lands safely.

Watch Vibes: Automatic or Quartz

 

To some, watches are not just a time-telling device but a living organism that bonds with the owner. This bond can not be achieved if the watch uses some material involving digitized technology. Although it is much more convenient to use a battery-operated watch, these enthusiasts prefer automatic watches, namely the mechanical watches, over the quartz ones, which need batteries to run.

Quartz watches have come into being not so earlier. Rather, it was invented in the 70s. It uses a relatively cheap mineral called quartz. Quartz crystals have an ability to vibrate under some electrical signal. And its vibration is calibrated so that it moves the hour and second hands of a watch precisely. A small-sized battery powers these watches. Such watches are cheap to manufacture since they do not contain complicated parts and pieces. And they offer extreme accuracy.

Automatic watches, on the other hand, pose challenges to the makers, as they have so many parts. They are powered by the motion of your wrists, while some models need manual winding. They will not need battery replacements. However, they will stop ticking after sitting for a period longer than a couple days. When not worn or not wound, automatic watches deplete their power reserve. Lastly, they are not that accurate, typically losing a couple of seconds a day.

Despite the downsides of owning an automatic watch, watch enthusiasts love the way the second hand flies. Unlike the quartz watches, the second hand flows continuously. It is subtle details like these that make automatic watches appeal to some tastes.

Watches Forever

 

Checking the time has become so straightforward lately that it is almost available in everyone’s pockets in the form of mobile phones. Phone screens made the time-telling practice so easy that the demand for wristwatches and desk clocks has gone downward.

Wristwatches have begun to be perceived as nothing more than an ordinary accessory. Some find it a nuisance since it needs periodical battery changes as well as a new strap caused by wear and tear.

However, there are still people who strongly favor wearing watches. To them, telling the time using a mobile phone requires more effort because it takes time for one to flash it out of the pocket. Yet, checking your wrist to tell the time happens almost instantly. They posit that wearing a watch cannot be confined within the idea of fashion. It should be regarded as a respectful way of paying homage to the science of timekeeping.

Watches, in that sense, boast a set of technological advancements, which mesmerize the users deeply. It almost becomes a hobby in which the user admires not only the technology but also the looks. There are tons of different shapes and brands of watches that appeal to owners with different styles. Enthusiasts love wearing different watches that can match with their outfit. That is why they own multiple watches and shuffle them according to their mood on a particular day.

There are wristwatches available to everyone from different income levels. A cheap watch can do the job of timekeeping and still look cool. What is important is how it makes the owner feel.

Scale Modelling

 

I was an admirer of well-designed machines back when I was still a child. I could literally fall in love with a car, an airplane, or a tank just because it looks aesthetic to me. I remember checking every detail of my favorite machine carefully from any media available to me at that time. Later in life, I learned that there was a hobby involving those machines. This hobby lets you build your dream machine, albeit a smaller plastic version of it.

The machine, be it a tank or helicopter, comes in a box as a kit. It is made of plastic parts attached to the main frame through some sprues. You cut individual parts from these sprues and glue them together according to a build map that is included in the box. After completion, the model needs painting to look like the real one.

These plastic models have a scale to show how small your build is compared to the real version. For example, a scale of 1/35 means your build happens to be 35 times smaller in size. The scale of the model can vary so that the size of the model you have differs—the smaller the scale, the larger the model.

The hobby proves mind-opening in many senses. It sharpens your child’s motor skills while instilling a sense of passion and motivation in your kid. They also learn to be patient, as it takes long to finish one build. Lastly, scale modelling can teach a child about the mechanics of machines and encourage them to work in engineering-related fields.

Dinosaurs: A Child’s Obsession

 

In 1993, the first Jurassic Park movie hit the box office with incredible success. The movie had visual effects so sharp that it almost looked real. The dinosaurs depicted were so realistic and true to the originals that it made a whole generation of kids become fans of dinosaurs. It literally sparked a frenzy among kids of the 90s to search and read anything about dinosaurs.

Publishers rushed to release books, magazines, and comics about dinosaurs to profit from such a high demand. Museums opened new collections that include dinosaur fossils. Children were led to activities consisting of digging for dinosaur bones at various sites. Toys and miniatures of different dinosaur species became very popular, selling tens of thousands.

It was fun for kids to enjoy those amenities. However, the real benefit of the dinosaur madness came with the fact that it instilled a sense of scientific curiosity in children. They were curious about how these creatures lived, how they were fed, and sadly, how they all died and went extinct. No wonder most of these kids wanted to be paleontologists back then.

The generation that had been through this frenzy is believed to have engaged in STEM more than the generations that follow. Some of them sought careers in engineering and academics. Others, when grown up to become adults, have been into science as a hobby.

After this “dinosaur frenzy” died down, new generations got addicted to areas that do not always benefit them. Kids of today are so very much bound to video games and mobile phones that they have been made to neglect any interest in science.

Türkiye’s Wonders: The History

 

Türkiye sits on an astonishingly rich history of ancient civilizations, witnessing not only the very first steps of settlements but also the ascendance of some of the greatest empires of the world. Göbeklitepe, which is in the eastern part of Türkiye, dates back to 12,000 years ago. It is older than Stonehenge and considered the “zero point” of the entire history. The settlement in Gobeklitepe hints at the dawn of village life, a transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture.

Türkiye is abundantly rich in terms of prehistoric sites that can be dated to thousands of years ago. One of them is Alacahöyük, situated in the central part of the country. Belonging to the great Hittite Empire, which reigned over great parts of Anatolia during the Neolithic Age. Artifacts found here suggest that the settlers started to use copper tools alongside stone tools. Excavations show that the town was progressing towards a flourishing community with a substantial network of roads and trade routes.

Konya, a central city in Türkiye, boasts a wide array of historic monuments from nearly all ages of history. Greeks, Persians, Romans, and Seljuk Turks inhabited the city during different times and all contributed to the city’s historic heritage, respectively. Mevlana, who is a renowned religious philosopher, practiced his teaching here. His resting place is now a museum, demonstrating the mystic way of life his dervishes lived.

One cannot skip İstanbul when talking about history in Türkiye. Being a former capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, İstanbul possesses more historical places than any other city in the country. Hagia Sophia can easily be the oldest of these. Built by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian in 537 AD, this monument changed the history of architecture. Although built as a church, it was converted to a mosque by Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the great Turkish conqueror of Constantinople, nowadays called İstanbul. Opposite to Hagia Sophia lies the Blue Mosque, named after its wonderful blue tiles.

Türkiye’s historic heritage is vast and widely diversified, a sight to behold and admire.

Türkiye’s Wonders: The Nature

 

Located on a unique geographic crossroad, Türkiye enjoys all four seasons. Summers are not too dry unlike its neighbours in the South. Winters are also no colder than its northern neighbors. You may feel an occasional breeze cooling you when the weather is too hot.

You can always take a swim in the turquoise waters of beautiful beaches spread out all around the country’s coastal regions if you still swelter. Türkiye boasts some of the best beaches out of all Mediterranean countries.

 The north of the country harbors the Black Sea and is famous for its humid climate. Rainfalls are so common in these parts that they let the trees flourish.  The green forests meet the clear blues of the sea, creating a view that is so picturesque you will want to visit it again.

The east of the country is mountainous. As the elevation gets steeper, you can witness some eye-candy scenery there. The famous Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı) attracts climbers from all around the world.

One of the natural wonders of Türkiye is the Peribacaları, or Fairy Chimneys. Situated right at the middle of the country, these are interestingly-shaped rock formations caused by natural forces eroding the rocks.

And there is İstanbul, a city that serves as a bridge to both European and Asian side of Türkiye. A large canal called Bosphorus divides these two continents while providing a passageway for the ships traveling between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Türkiye’s natural wonders are not limited to this essay. One must visit the country to truly dig for the other hidden gems.

Drones Find New Uses

 

A Quadcopter Drone

Drones have divulged into more aspects of our modern life as they get technologically more complicated. Their versatile use comes as no surprise as they find new fields of implementation over time. The latest place where drones are starting to excel is the combat arena.

Drones had a limited use in the field of conflicts up until now. They were used as a means of surveillance, monitoring the situation on the battlefield. Equipped with the cutting-edge use of optics, drones surveyed and gathered intelligence about the other party in a conflict.

However, the latest developments around the conflict zones assigned drones new duties with additional capabilities. They now can be controlled by virtual reality goggles from a distance, which is called “First Person View.” This way it is much easier for the drone operator to steer and pinpoint the drones to any location.

Additionally, they have been installed with some explosive ordnance with which they can strike the enemy. A drone can now take out an enemy tank single-handedly.

The use of drones as a weapon brought about important tactical implications that must be taken into account by all sides of any conflict. Because drones are cheap to produce and capable of destroying expensive equipment, they changed the military doctrine forever.

First introduced to fulfill non-combat duties such as aerial photography, drones have come a long way. Their job on combat operations is well-consolidated now and is expected to continue in the future with a greater scope.

Economics of Football

Football has been at the forefront of the entertainment sector for the last 50 years. Masses of people gather around to watch their favorite team play. Not only do they fill the stadia, but also they use televisions or their phones to follow their teams’ performance on the pitch.

Because it has been so popular all over the world, football generates an insane amount of income for the clubs. Tickets, sponsorships, and advertisements bring in cash to the clubs. With such a steady source of income, clubs invest in bigger stadiums, which in turn lead to more income through sales of more tickets than before. Clubs also buy young talents who have the potential to grow into robust players, who could be sold to richer clubs for a considerable profit. This is the business cycle that we see surrounding the triangle formed by clubs, players, and fans.

Yet, football cannot always be profitable as one would expect. Ill-decisions given by clubs as to the transfer policies might be a step backwards. Make too many of such transfers and you will end up with an income loss. If clubs do not behave professionally in managing the team, they might also lose their competitiveness in the sports arena, which might deprive them of a valuable fan base. Without a reliable fan base, the club will not be able to sell tickets or merchandise, which poses as another loss-incurring reality.

Clubs getting poorer in such a fashion experience a downward spiral that can see the team off, making them struggle for years in lower leagues.

No matter how dependent on money football is nowadays, it still is beautiful.

How to Spark An Interest on Aviation

The quickest technological progress that human-beings has ever accomplished might be considered as advancements on aviation. In less than 100 years after Wright-Brothers’ attempt at flying with the most basic airplane, we transport millions around the globe by air through state-of-the art airplanes, which weigh tons. Such an improvement would not have been concieved if it was not for the passion of persons on aviation.

Such a passion would only be lived on by helping kids develop a love for flying and everything that makes us move in the air. The next generation should take aviation to the next level and they must be exposed to jets, helicopters and all flying machines throughout their educational career.

One way to install such a passion is to take them to museums wih aviation themes. Getting up close and personal with some of the historic aircraft can be quite helpful. Quoting on how these operated on the real life and telling stories about these flying wings might capture the little ones’ attention.

They can also be taken to the nearest air show where people can get up close and personal with various aircraft. Unlike museums, these are not static displays. You can watch them fly by and even perform some aerobatics, which might spark an interest in these machines. Feeling the vibrations that the jet engines produce always gets one into an excitement and awe.

The love for flying starts at the childhood. Pilots are often the ones who kept dreaming on flying when they were young. We should encourage young people to pursue aviation-related careers.

As the great Turkish Leader Ataturk says: “The future is in the skies.”

When Audio Becomes an Obsession

 

Music takes up a good part of our lives since it is conceived as a form of entertainment which you can enjoy on the go. With the advent of portable devices that are able to play music anywhere, music has become more accessible and easily available. Gone are the days when one can only access music through radiotapes which were bulky and heavy.

People now listen to music through their mobile phones, which is always available to them wherever they go. Using earphones, there is no interference between us and the music, enabling a whole new listening experience. Every note, every instrument and every subtle detail in music is now discernible by listeners.

Such an experience has created a new phenomenon called “audiophly”. People who claim to enjoy only the best-sounding music call themselves audiophils. They are known to tell all the characteristics of good-sounding music, and to them any crack at the sound would take away the joy of listening.

Audiophils yearn for the ultimate music experience that money can buy. Thus, they are always on the lookout for technology that has the potential to enhance this experience. To them, people should steer clear of the sound equipment that is technologically inferior-it steals from the joy of music.

Making the most of the listening experience, it might be a good idea to pick the right equipment. However, spending way more than you can afford to pursue that dream is not sensible. We can still have fun listening to music while setting our expectations according to our budget.

No More Outdoor Fun?

 

Recreational activities stand at the very center of the newly established concept of “having fun” in today’s modern life. People prefer going out to a park or a natural setting and spending their time moving around.

These activities are mostly popular among people because they can be done on a limited budget. You only need to pay for the equipment; a tent, or hiking shoes, depending on what you plan to do.

However, the number of people who are actually spending their day outside doing what they love is gradually declining. People are getting tight on their schedule that they no longer have spare time to fill in with these leisurely activities.

Working long hours while having to take care of children already sucks up valuable time and energy from one’s life. Thus, they are forced to employ what is left of them to best use. They choose to watch Netflix or play video games as a form of entertainment over those that are done outdoors.

Such circumstances that push us to idly entertain ourselves at home are not bound to change so quickly. Some of us still have to work double jobs, some take care of three small children. However, we should never stop altering our busy schedule in favor of some outdoor activities. We can always carve out some of our time to go out and do some exercises, even for a couple of hours.

We must take it seriously as it can determine your health status too. No one can maintain a healthy lifestyle without adding some exercise to their leisurely activity list.

Is Switching to an EV a Good Idea?

 

Electric Cars

Trashing your current gas operated car in favor of a brand new Electric Car (EV) may prove to be an economic decision considering your transportation bill would dip down. However, such a transition could have its downsides, as electric cars pose challenges of their own too.

First of all, EVs run on electricity, which is cheaper than gas most of the time. If you charge your car from your house, the cost savings compared to filling gas tank become more significant.

EVs cost less to make since they consist of fewer parts compared to a traditional car. All it requires to make an EV run is to put together an electric motor and a battery pack. They do not have an engine and a transmission, which are known to be overly complicated parts.

Because EVs do not possess such parts to begin with, they do not require substantial maintenance as the gas powered cars do on regular intervals. This is another cost saving facet of EVs.

On the other hand, the range of EVs is not so promising, as you have to charge your car more so often in order not to be left stranded on the side of the road. This can be a big nuisance especially when there are not enough charging stations in the proximity.

Charging duration can also pose a question mark for potential buyers since it might take an hour to completely charge your car even on those fast chargers. The situation gets more annoying if all the stations are occupied and you have to wait for some time to find a vacant spot.

Owning an EV might sound like a cheaper and a cleaner way of getting from point A to point B. Yet, it is not without its woes.

Ataturk’s Leadership Traits

 

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, illustrated all the important facets of being an outstanding leader, guiding the nation through some of the darkest times. It is his lead that helped the people of Turkey believe that the goal of independence is real and attainable if believed by all.

A true leader empowers people around him so that they have the motivation needed to keep them working hard against all odds. Ataturk’s efforts to congregate the Turkish people who stood against the occupation and make them believe that they have the will and power to repel the enemy off is strong proof to this leadership trait. His quest throghout Anatolia united the Turks for one common goal while unleashing a strong desire for freedom.

Good leaders tend to lead by example. They never act behind the scenes. Instead, they always step onto the stage and show what needs to be done to his followers. Likewise, Ataturk did not prefer to lead from the command center idly; he descended into the field in order to fight alongside his fellow soldiers, orchestrating the charges on the enemy. Thereby, he made an example to follow, whatever the cost.

Being a good leader requires being a good listener. He cared about what others have to say about any decision he makes. Ataturk also made a habit of holding meetings where everybody’s opinion is counted for and discussed about. To him, letting people known that their voices are heard is of utmost importance to any democracy.

With the help of Ataturk’s wisdom and leadership, Turkey emerged victorious from its struggles as a democratic and sovereign country, ready to develop into a modern nation.

Lost Appetite – The Joy of Reading

 

I remember I stared at comic magazines before I learned to read. I was trying to guess what was going on just by looking at the pictures and turning the pages, curious to see what happens next. After I learned how to read, those comic books became my lasting memories from my childhood. I was so happy reading them, never knowing what boredom was.

Nowadays, I rarely see children enjoying their reading sessions. Reading feels like something obligatory as an extension to their studies rather than an activity to get joy out of it. Although the selection of books available to them is much more diverse than what it used to be, kids do not seem to find books that make them jubilant.

This is largely attributable to the technology that surrounds today’s youth. The internet has made available just about any digital content. Movies, games, and all sorts of digital entertainment instilled a sense of insatiability into young minds. Accessing everything and switching back and forth between each media with ease, kids started to be oblivious to simple things that used to make them happy. To them, reading takes time and some mental energy. They could simply watch an episode of their favorite TV series instead and get the same joy they could have gotten out of reading.

The joy of reading faded because of the excessive use of technology in kids. Technology, though helpful if used correctly, can mess with your child’s cognitive skills. Reading, on the other hand, flourishes their mental skill set while giving them a good time.

Toyota's Legacy

Toyota has been known for making reliable cars for decades. Their cars are labeled as having the perfect combination of passenger safety, comfort, and cost-effectiveness. Toyota excels at anything an average consumer may need while claiming low emissions. But how do they achieve these traits anyway?

Toyota’s secret lies in their relentless pursuit of consumer satisfaction. To them, a satisfied consumer can be more important than money since a customer having a bad experience with the brand might discourage others who had eyes on the same brand. That’s why they recall all those cars with defective airbags. Even though it costs them a fortune to undertake such an endavour, it makes the consumers happy to feel valued.

Toyota never makes drastic changes to their cars, making sure that no hiccups happen at the production phase. Something that has not been tested and tried can always go wrong. Hence, it is company policy that innovation is introduced incrementally rather than abruptly. That does not mean Toyota’s doors are closed to technological advancements; rather, the timing of these advancements is of vital importance.

Toyota emphasizes environmental sustainability. They acted a lot earlier than its competitors by introducing hybrid cars to the industry. Converting some of the car’s kinetic energy to electricity and thereby using that electricity to move the car was revolutionary. Others followed Toyota on hybrid cars, helping consumers enjoy a driving experience that is cleaner and cheaper.

Toyota continues the legacy by offering people a safe and comfortable ride from point A to point B while still working on ways to enhance the consumer experience further. Setting the standards higher while stiffening the competition, Toyota’s production mentality lifts the automobile industry as a whole.

Innovation and Private Sector

Private firms spearhead the production growth in any country. After all, the capitalist system itself pushes the private sector to engage in economic activities, as the capital needed for these activities is held by private individuals. It has been proven that the government acting as an entrepreneur in the market often yields outcomes that do not benefit society as a whole.

The private sector’s stance on market opportunities involves rational choices based on the profitability of any economic endeavor. Private entities prioritize their money, the capital, before dulging in any activity since it is their hard-earned and accumulated capital that is at stake. On the other hand, governments spend the tax money, which belongs to citizens. When government officials decide to compete in any market, they do not always behave like private firms do, as the capital that they are putting forward is not theirs. They are not betting their own money, which could lead them to make bolder decisions. The private sector is the key to efficient economic decisions.

Not only that, but the private sector comes up with innovation, which brings about economic growth. To increase productivity, thus profit, firms need to innovate. Take, for example, Henry Ford’s assembly line. He needed to manufacture cars at a faster rate, so he devised a new production method in which pre-produced parts were attached to the body at a specific location on a continuously moving line.

The fact that the private sector’s efficient production, combined with the government’s monitoring and safeguarding, propels a nation’s economy to new heights is undeniable.

Drones Get Equipped With A.I.

Drones have taken up a bigger space in our skies lately. Easy to operate than any other aerial vehicle, drones are used in so many areas, from delivery of goods to surveillance. By incorporating drone technology with artificial intelligence, drones can also be controlled by computers. Although such a technology is still in its infancy, it will transform the future of drones dramatically.

Assigning each drone with an a.i. gives them a sense of autonomy, allowing them to decide what to do depending on changing circumstances. A drone equipped with advanced CPUs can calculate the possible whereabouts of disaster survivors and help authorities locate them. Drones can survey and map areas struck by disasters, accelerating the search and rescue efforts.

Drones can also navigate through stern environments where humans cannot get there safely. Caverns, cliffs, and summits can all be explored by drones without putting human life in danger. They can pinpoint congested streets or roads, reporting spots that cause traffic jams.

The fight against crime can also be another area to make use of drones. We would not need any choppers to follow criminals who run off by vehicle. The chase vehicle can be easily tracked by drones, which can calculate possible routes that the runaway vehicle could divert to. This would greatly ease law enforcement's efforts to fight crime.

The future of drones is very bright. The application of drones has become so widespread that its implications will affect everyone for the better. Life will be a lot easier, and the world will be safer.